Tappet adjusting wrench



y 1952 F. G. PALESH, JR

TAPPET ADJUSTING WRENCH Filed July 51, 1950 Frank 6. Pa/esh INVENTOR.

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Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

TAPPET ADJUSTING WRENCH Frank G. Palesh, Jr., Buffalo, N. Y. Application my 31, 1950, Serial No. 176,897

1 Claim.

1 This invention relates to a wrench for adjusting tappets on automotive vehicles while the motor is running and has for the primary object to provide a tool which includes a screwdriver, guide and an insert.

The primary object of this invention is to pro-- vide a tool for adjusting tappets which includes a sleeve member or insert for grippingly embracing the nut on the tappet and a screwdriver having a socket member slidable on the shank thereof, the socket member being designed to slip over and grippingly engage the outer surface of the sleeve member while the latter is being retained in'position upon the tappet nut by means of a conventional box wrench. The important features of this invention comprise the socket member or retainer and the insert or sleeve so that the wrench can be adapted for use with tappets of varying sizes by merely replacing the insert and the retainer. The socket member or retainer not only holds the sleeve member and engaged tappet nut against rotation but also assists in aligning the bit on the shank of the screwdriver with the slot in the screw portion of the tappet.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a tool for adjusting tappets of the character described which is relatively simple in design and construction, inexpensive, easy to operate, very efficient for its intended purpose, and readily adaptable for use with tappets of varying sizes without the necessity of replacing the entire tool.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompany drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through the tool shown in operation, some parts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 2 is a group perspective view of the structural features making up the tool.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at III is a conventional tappet for use on an automotive vehicle having a rod I2 universally pivoted as at I4 to an externally threaded tappet screw I6 which receives an internally threaded hex lock nut I8, the top end of the screw I6 including a diametrically extending slot 20. The tool proper includes a sleeve member of jaw 22 which is preferably hexagonal and which is adapted to slide upon and grippingly engage the tappet nut I8 as shown clearly in Figure 1. It will be understood that the sleeve can be of any shape provided it can slip freely upon the tappet nut I8 and grippingly engage the same to hold the nut against rotation. The sleeve 22 is provided, on its upper portion, with an interrupted thread 24, the purpose of which will be presently stated. Also, the sleeve 22 terminates in a flared lower end portion constituting a stop 25, the function of which also will be presently set forth.

The tool further includes a screwdriver I28 having a shank 30 the upper end of which i externally threaded as at 32 to be received in an internally' threaded socket of a handle 34 and to be removably retained thereon by a lock nut 36. The lower end of the shank includes a bit 38 which is adapted to extend through the sleeve 22 engaging the tappet nut I8, the bit being adapted to be received in the slot 20 at the top of the tappet screw I6. To retain the screwdriver on the sleeve 22, a socket member or retainer 40 is provided which includes a longitudinal bore 42 slidably receiving the shank 3D. The bottom end portion of the socket member is enlarged as at 44 and includes an internal thread 46 adapted to receive the interrupted thread 24 on the outer surface of the sleeve 22.

To further retain the sleeve 22 against rotation, a conventional box wrench 48 is employed which has an integral circular socket or collar 50 at its end which slides over the sleeve 22 and rests on the stop 25, the collar being provided at its inner surface with serrations 52 to improve the gripping action.

In use, the sleeve or tubular jaw 22 is inserted in the box 50 of the wrench 48 and the socket member 4|] i threaded on the upper portion of said jaw 22. In this manner, the wrench 48 is firmly clamped on the jaw 22 between the stop 25 and the lower end of the socket member 40. The jaw 22 is then slipped on the tappet lock nut I8 and the bit 38 of the screw driver 28 is engaged in the kerf or slot 20 of the tappet I6. Through the medium of the wrench 48, the lock nut I8 is then loosened to permit adjustment of the tappet I6 in the rocker arm of the engine, during which adjustment the loosened lock nut I8 is held stationary. Of course, the tappet I6 is adjusted by the screw driver. The tappet I6 is then held against rotation through the medium of the screw 7 3 driver 28 and the lock nut I8 is again tightened, thus securing the adjustment.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred-embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A tappet adjusting tool comprising a-polygonal tubular jaw for insertion in a box Wrench for actuation thereby, a stop on one end portion of said jaw engageable with the wrench, a socket member threadedly mounted on the other end portion of the jaw and engageable with the Wrench and, in conjunction with the stop, providing means for removably securing said jaw in the wrench, said socket member having a longitudinal bore in one end portion, and a screw driver journaled in the bore.

FRANK G. PALESH, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,544,520- Putrow June 30, 1925 1,681,881 Shaw Aug. 21, 1928 "211941169 Gagne Mar. 19, 1940 

